In about a month-and-a-half, I will celebrate my one-year “blogiversary.” Since November 2003, my readership has steadily grown. What began as a between-columns-rant has turned into a-new-column-everyday exercise, and I want to thank everyone who reads my blog.
Every blogger wants readers, even though some pretend not to care. Let’s face it: we’re not out here in the blogosphere writing for ourselves and two other people. We want to reach and influence as many as possible. Most of us will never be an Instapundit (although I want to be as influential and widely-read), but having a small audience is more than enough to feel like we’re making a contribution to the world.
There’s nothing like immediate feedback, either, and I thank all commenters. Some of you agree with everything I write and others agree with absolutely nothing. Still others take issue with some of my views. I appreciate every single one of you! 
In August, I posted an entry about building a readership, and I’d like to re-run it for new bloggers wondering how it’s done. Make sure you read the other post I link to. There’s no secret. It takes discipline, stamina, perseverance and interesting posts. And a “hook” wouldn’t hurt. For instance, I’m an evangelical Christian who’s an outspoken political conservative. And I’m black. I don’t like to bring race into it, but it is part of my “blog-appeal.” The top ten bloggers in the ecosystem are white males, and I’m certain most bloggers are.
Happy Friday, everybody!
August 4, 2004
Building An Audience The Old-Fashioned Way
Right-winger John Hawkins has a post up about building a blog audience. He’s averaging 6,000 hits a day. I don’t know how long he’s been blogging, but that’s not bad. Not bad at all. John writes:
So don’t just take my word for it, listen to one Drew Curtis, the man who runs Fark, a page that has more than a million readers per day. Here’s a slightly edited transcript of a conversation we had on ICQ, back in Feb of 2003…Drew Curtis: All of 1999 we got 50,000 pageviews. These days we get 5,000,000 per week (**Note that the numbers are higher now**) those are no BS numbers either. Everytime I ask someone how many page views they get, they automatically multiply by 5-10 times
John Hawkins: 50,000 for the whole year? It was basically the same page back then too right?
Drew Curtis: Yup. Check out the archives, it’s saved. Yeah 50k for the whole year. But think about it, why would a page written from scratch as someone’s personal homepage be any higher? I thought 50k was a freakin avalanche.
John Hawkins: Oh — I know — I’ve been though it myself — but a lot of people think they’re going to create a web page and then boom — two months later they’re going to be pulling 10k people a day.
Drew Curtis: Yeah I think just about everyone does. I get emails from folks all day. If you don’t stick to it for at least two years straight day in day out it won’t take off.
So all you conservative bloggers out there, take Drew’s advice. Stick to it for at least two years straight and contribute money to RWN…
I wrote about this last month in response to a fellow blogger’s disenchantment with blogging because his hit count was low. Here’s an excerpt:
Before I started this blog, I wasn’t much of a blog reader. I read only one, a collaborative blog, because a friend joined it.I went in with low expectations and was very flattered when one or two commenters stopped by. One of the advantages I had was I didn’t know about the big blogs that got 20+ comments and thousands of hits per day. After eight months in “business”, I average 350-400 hits per day; I got 500+ hits a few times, though I can’t remember for which posts. I appreciate every one of them.
You never know who’s reading your blog. Imagine my surprise when I found out that someone like Michelle Malkin was reading. And yesterday, I got a call from an editor I worked with once at the Philadelphia Inquirer. They do a weekly blog showcase and wanted permission to excerpt part of the Kerry post on abortion, particularly this paragraph: “Our laws are grounded in moral absolutes, whether secularists think so or not. I don’t know if Kerry believes abortion is murder…”
Having a purpose for blogging definitely helps. Mine was to comment daily from a Christian point of view. The blog is also a central location for my columns and articles, and a quick way for friends to find out what I’m up to.
My first piece of advice for bloggers trying to build a readership is to blog because you like doing it.
I advised him to submit his blog to directories and search engines and join various blog carnivals, such as Carnival of the Vanities, Christian Carnival, Blogs For Bush Carnival, etc.
I market my column (though I should be doing much more), so I marketed my blog. Taking the time to comment on other blogs is very important. It not only helps build community, but it’s an opportunity to leave your URL on someone else’s site. You just might be “discovered” by one of the big boys.
Blog because you like (dare I say love) it. I’ve been writing a bi-weekly column for over two years, and when I started blogging eight months ago on Blog*Spot, my expectations were very low. I had no ambitions of building an audience. I just needed an outlet to do daily rants, and blogging seemed like the natural choice.
Since I started the new blog about three weeks ago with my own domain name, my hits have increased modestly. While John’s 6,000 average is relatively awesome, I’m astoundingly grateful for 1,000.
I’ve learned a few basic things about blogging that work for me:
1. Post at least one interesting item a day for at least five days a week. I sometimes take weekends off.
2. Delete comments that cross the line, whatever that is for you, and don’t concern yourself about bone-headed accusations of “preaching to the choir” (So what if you are?). I allowed some leeway in the beginning because I was “new.” But no more. I have no patience for it now.
3. Delete trackbacks that lead to an insulting or sarcastic post about you. My rule for such nitwits: No free publicity on my bandwidth!
That’s all I want to say at the moment, but if you want more advice, you know where to reach me. I blog because I love to write, must write. That’s how I’ve built an audience. My sage advice to any would-be blogger is…just blog.
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Aww, it’s so nice to be appreciated!!
And La Shawn, we all appreciate you too!!!
Coumb by ah, LaShawn, coumb by ah…
Where’s the punch and finger foods?
Lla Shawn
I’d like to say thanks for all the support you’ve given me in my startup. The tips are great, but your encouragement has been fantastic.
You’re right. We don’t just write for ourselves. We write because we have something to say that we believe people should hear.
Happy Blogiversary! Keep up the good work
La Shawn,
I truly enjoy your blog. It has become addictive! I have to tear myself away from the computer to get work done, otherwise, I would sit here all day and comment on your posts.
Happy Blogiversary
Congrats on your blogversary! I always enjoy reading your posts and although I never comment, I do think you’ve got a lot of great things to say.
You’re black LaShawn. Gasp! I had no ideeeaaa!!
I always have fun stopping by.
{sniff} I’m feelin . . . feelin the LOVE man!
{tossing some chew toys and a bib into the Blogous-crib}
She’s teething
Uh-Oh, does this mean your heading into the Terrible 2’s??? (And you thought she was a dynamo in her first year – U ain’t seen nothing yet!)
Seriously, Congratulations! Time surly flies when you’re having fun and Blogging!
Every morning after my devotional reading, I have several blogs to visit – and yours is in the top three. And that’s not just to flatter you – no need for that. I just love to read interesting and intelligent writing.
LaShawn:
There’s another angle to this too.
In general, I’m not big on the whole “female blogger thing”, but I can’t help but take a bit of pride and pleasure when reading such an intelligent and articulate writer who just happens to be female too. How refreshing that your mind comes first, and everything else – race and gender – come in a distant second, or third… or… maybe just an also-ran. This is the way it’s supposed to be. Or maybe just how I want the world to be.
I’m so tired of weighing words and worrying about offending people. I wouldn’t hurt anyone for the whole world – if we could just put all this silliness aside and view each other as people instead of colors, ethnic mixtures, or sets of genitalia with unearned gender privileges, what a world it could be! Or am I dreaming again?
I tend not to read other blogs enough — never enough hours in the day! — but yours is always a joy. It takes courage to confront the madness. Please don’t ever change.
Whether you agree with me, the right-wing nutjobs, left-wing moonbats, Libertarians, Green Party Naderites, or Transgender Puppy-loving Mango Ranchers Against Corporate Facism, just keep writing.
Happy Blogoversary!
Warm fuzzies.
La Shawn congrats on your forthcoming anniversary…. You have been a inspiration to me and many others who value freedom of speech and willing to do what it takes to protect it. You are a credit to youself the blogsphere and our great county.
take care
Demond
“or sets of genitalia with unearned gender privileges”
Hold up Cassandra! SOME of those unearned priv’s were bestowed upon us! and we like em!
____________________________
{Phew, still haven’t crossed the line!}
Many, many happy returns of the day, LaShawn! You are indeed a bright spot in the blogosphere, one I visit daily and with joy…
Congratulations La Shawn. Gotta love ya! OUTSTANDING SITE!!!
WWWWhoa…….geni-who? I aint touchin that one, so, simply put:
I love this blessed place; I luv it-I luv it-I luv it!!!(Ah, ya like that “blessed”, huh? Hey, we aint no non-votin Evangel-fish.)
And happy anniversary to the Barber’s Corner Bloggies….now let us all bow in respect & admiration of Lady Barber.
“We are not worthy, Lady B, we are not worthyyyyyyy!!”
SSSeeyah!!
Off subject, but for the common good…
Steps Americans can take to help thwart election oriented terrorist attacks
Good morning America,
The following list are common sense steps you as an individual, family, neighborhood or community can take to possibly prevent possible attack on this nation by the islamo-fascists of the enemy cult on or around elections day.
Ø First and foremost, take advantage of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution and purchase a weapon to protect yourself. Get trained on the proper and safe use of that weapon.
Ø Be vigilant. Keep an eye on suspicious people doing suspicious things and going to suspicious places. Especially people of middle-eastern descent and practitioners of the enemy cult wing of islam. Note the OBVIOUS.
Ø Be vigilant. Keep an eye on your local mosque. Try and pay attention, who and what moves in and out of it. Where appropriate, peacefully make you presence known. Alert the police or proper authorities to suspicious activities. Note the OBVIOUS.
Ø For the minority of “good” muslims on the inside, please be so kind as to alert authorities to sermons that seem out of place or overly hateful leading up to the election. Take note of new members, new to the area and seemingly not on the same “peaceful” accord as the rest of the mosque membership.
Ø Don’t be predictable. Try not to take the same path going and coming. Change up your routine a bit. In other words, don’t put yourself in a position to get ambushed.
Ø For those of you in retail, pay attention to weird and/or bulk purchases of materials that can be used for ill will. Translation, watch what people of middle-eastern descent are purchasing. Especially young males age 20-40.
Ø Keep people you know or don’t know who are of middle-eastern descent busy on the days leading up to the election. Become very friendly with them. Try and spend as much time with them as possible. Get to know them and their families and friends very well. STAY CLOSE TO THEM!
Ø Watch for and report cars and especially trucks parked where they should not be.
Ø Rental car businesses should be closely monitored to see who is renting the vehicles and for what purposes. Rental associates should be trained to ask probing questions even if it irritates the potential customer.
Ø There should be a security zone around all polling places where parking a car or truck is illegal.
Ø Pat down searches should be required for ALL of those international observers before they can get within 500 ft. of any polling place.
Ø Day care centers and schools should be on special alert during these days. Parents taking their children to school should take advantage of the 2nd Amendment and carry (with proper permit) on those days. Do not just drop your children off. Walk them in.
Ø When riding on public transportation, pay attention to who is sitting next to you and who is coming on and off the conveyance. Go ahead and take a look under the seat. Try and not fall asleep if it is a shorter trip. Be observant.
Ø WATCH THE PORTS!!! Get the Longshoremen involved in keeping the harbors safe.
Ø Pay attention to barking dogs. Sometimes it becomes routine to ignore dogs doing what they do, but in this time, kind of see what is making them agitated. Especially at night. Take a glance.
Ø For those of you who work in corporate offices: Double check your contracted cleaning staffs to see who is roaming around your buildings at night. Reaffirm their clearances. Check to see if they have hired any new personnel. ESPECIALLY any with middle-eastern sounding sir names.
Ø Increase the frequency of security code and password changes. Don’t get complacent. Do random entry badge checks.
Ø Did I mention the 2nd Amendment?
Ø Pay special attention to where certain groups of people are NOT that day. Notice the surroundings where you normally see many people of middle-eastern descent congregating and all of a sudden they are not there.
Ø Keep an eye on the Nation of Islam. I still don’t trust that Farrascam dude.
Ø JUST USE COMMON SENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If all of this sounds “gestapo-ish” then GOOD. Desperate times call for TEMPORARY desperate measures. While I will never sacrifice freedom for security, you still have to use common sense when warranted.
Ray Coleman
Tampa, FL
La Shawn,
When I stumbled across your site I cheered for having another conservative Christian voice in the world. Your being black is just icing on a wonderful cake. Keep it up. Speak your mind and never hold back the torpedos! I love reading your opinions and yes you do have a gift for words.
I’m looking forward to your one year anniversary and many more.
Fred Reitberger
Tampa, FL
LaShawn
Hope you have many more fullfilling years on your website. It’s great to see more and more black conservatives making their views known in the media.
Also as a Christian when things in the world are in turmoil, we can see the final result, the Lords return.
When he returns there will be true justice and a government ruled by him alone.
Thanks, everybody!
Congratulations and Happy Blogiversary!
Your blog is one of my must reads every day.
Take care,
Dani
I read your blog on a regular basis, although this is my first time responding. I may not agree with everything you have say but I do enjoy reading your posts.
Be blessed.
Happy Blogiversary!! Your blog is still my favorite.
I have to admit that when I first saw blogs advertising, it struck me as a bit odd…maybe like something alternative trying to go mainstream. That was my bad. I only found your blog through an ad, and definitely enjoy reading it.
Eminent Blogress bar none!
Thank you La Shawn for your hard work on this great blog. You make it look easy, but we know the work you put into it behind the ’screens’. It is appreciated.
Now when you attain your high political office by election or appointment, yes we know it is in you future, stay in blogotouch and don’t forget us underlings you will have left behind.
Congratulations on a successful year!
A Fan,
Jim Russell
San Diego
Thanks for being in the ’sphere’ for me. I’ve escaped from the madness of the MSM to find perspective on the blogs. I am a regular visitor for your insight, common sense and uplifting Christian comfort. Thanks for sharing yourself with us!! We are blessed. Congrats on your anniversary and all my best for many more to come… Anita
How much more readership will I need (50’s a good day right now) before I GET negative comments or trackbacks?
I enjoyed your post here, it makes sense.
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